Pakistani Postgraduate Students’ Perceptions of Ecocriticism in Relation to Two Novels

Abstract

The present research study investigates postgraduate students' perceptions of ecocriticism in relation to two novels at a private-sector university in Multan, Punjab, Pakistan. The study is based upon the major research question: 'what perceptions of ecocriticism are held by a sample of postgraduate students in south Punjab, Pakistan?' Glotfelty's theory of ecocriticism was utilized as the theoretical framework guiding this study. The research instrument for collecting data was semi-structured interviews. The findings are based on data supplied by eight participants doing their M. Phil (postgraduate degree) in English literature. The main findings of this study are that the participants discussed and connected to ecocriticism and its themes in the novels that were close in terms of their personal experiences and context. However, no reference was found from the literature reviewed presenting students' perception of ecocriticism in a Pakistani context. The findings of the research are important for teachers and researchers of ecocriticism, fiction, and education because they present considerable insights into the perceptions of students in relation to fiction.